United Jewish War Effort Publishes Volume of Tributes to Jews in Armed Forces

August 20, 1943

New York (Aug. 19)

A book of tributes by leaders of the American nation to Jews in the U.S. armed forces, compiled by the United Jewish War Effort as a record of the courage and loyalty of American Jews, was released here today.

The purpose of the volume, as explained in the preface, written by Dr. Stephen S. Wise and Dr. Joseph Tenenbaum, heads of the United Jewish War Effort, is “to strengthen the ties of solidarity among all loyal Americans and to refute the vicious propaganda of our common enemies, undermining our national unity.” The preface refers to the role that Jews have played in the building of America and the recognition that their very survival depends upon the victory of the United Nations in the present war.

“We are proud to present in this small volume the tribute’s of America’s outstanding public figures to the valor of the Jews in the armed forces of the United States,” the preface reads. “The world has heard much of Meyer Levin, today, unsung and unglorified, who are meeting the enemy courageously, on land, on the sea, and in the air.”

Headed by General MacArthur and Admiral Helsey who sent their messages by cable from the Pacific war zone, the book contains 42 tributes in all. The list includes Vice President Wallace, four members of the President’s Cabinet, eleven Governors, eleven United States Senators, three War Administrators, five college presidents, the heads of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations, Mayor LaGuardia of New York City and Viscount Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States.